Cushioning attachments for wrench jaws



Oct. 16, 1956 P. Q. LABRY, JR

CUSHIONING ATTACHMENTS FOR WRENCH JAWS Filed May 18, 1954 PAUL 0. any; Jm,

IN V EN TOR.

A T TORNEK United States Patent "ice CUSHIONING ATTACHNIENTS FOR WRENCH JAWS Paul Q. Labry, Jr., Encino, Calif.

Application May 18, 1954, Serial No. 430,507

2 Claims. (Cl. 81-180) The present invention relates to attachments for gripping tools such as wrenches, pliers, vises, and so forth and more particularly to attachmentswhich can be easily secured in their proper position on agripping tool and which enable articles formed of soft metal or articles having highly polished surfaces to be firmly gripped without causing any damage thereto.

For gripping articles having highly polished surfaces or articles formed of soft metal, gripping tools having metal gripping surfaces have been proven to be unsuitable because the force necessary to firmly grip the article can mar, scratch, deform or otherwise damage the surface. The present invention contemplates attachments formed of plastic or similar material which are sufficiently yieldable to indent when in gripping relationship with a metal article and formed so as to be easily positioned on a gripping tool.

An object of the present invention therefore is to provide suitable attachments for gripping jaws of a wrench which prevent the surface of the work on which said wrench is used from being marred, scratched, deformed, or otherwise damaged; which have a cushioning effect while still firmly holding the work firmly in gripping position; which will reform to their original shape after the work has been released; and which are provided on their jaw-confronting faces with teeth that mesh teeth on the gripping jaws of the wrench so as to retain them in proper position on the jaws when the wrench is in gripping relationship with respect to a piece of Work.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide cushioning attachments which can be manufactured economically and in large numbers.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon perusal of the following description and accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a gripping tool, with parts removed, shown in combination with cushioning attachments of the present invention, with parts broken away to show details of construction.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a gripping tool, with parts removed, shown in combination with modified cushioning attachments.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a vise jaw shown in combination with a further modified form of the cushioning attachment of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the cushioning attachment shown in Fig. 5.

Referring in detail to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the number 10 represents generally a toggle pliers having a member 11 provided with a jaw 12a having a facing wall 12 and a member 13 with a jaw 14a having a facing wall 14. The member 13 is swingably connected to member 11 by means of a pin 15 and positions the member 13 2,766,649 Patented Oct. 16, 1953 to swing as to move wall 14 in gripping relationship with respect to wall 12 in a manner well known in the art.

The present invention consists of the provision of cushioning attachments 16 and 17 constructed so as to cover the gripping walls 12 and 14 of toggle pliers 10.

Each of the attachments 16 and 17 are channel-shaped and formed of any suitable plastic or similar material which is softer than metal, which will indent when pressed with sufiicient force against a metal article, which will recover rapidly to its original shape after being indented, and which embodies good frictional and gripping characteristics with respect to a piece of work. Examples of plastic or similar material which have been found to be highly effective are polyesters, polystyrenes, vinyls, and hard rubber. As previously suggested, each of they attachments are channel-shaped having a center jaw portion 18 and side gripping portions 19. The jaw surfaces 12 and 14 are each preferably formed with transverse teeth 20 and the side portions 19 are so spaced and sufficiently resilient to firmly grip the sides of the respective jaws when the attachments are positioned as shown in the drawings. The center portion of each of the attachments 16 and 17 is positioned against the respective teeth 20 so as to aid in preventing movement of the attachments foreand-aft on the teeth when a piece of work is being gripped by the pliers 10.

When the pliers are placed in use, the center portion 18 of each of the attachments contacts the work and cushions the same against being marred, scratched, or damaged regardless of whether or not the work is highly polished or formed of soft metal as previously suggested.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4, cushioning attachments are shown in combination with a Stilson wrench of any suitable or Well known construction, broadly designated as 21. These cushioning attachments 22 and 23 respectively are somewhat modified in form; however, each fits on opposing gripping jaws 24 and 25 of the Wrench in a substantially similar manner to previously described attachments 16 and 17. Each of the attachments is channel-shaped so as to grip the jaw in a manner similar to attachments 16 and 17; however, a retaining end 26 is also provided for preventing slipping of the attachments with respect to their respective jaw upon movement of the wrench. Each of the jaws is provided with transverse gripping teeth 27 and the inner surface of each of the attachments are also formed with matching teeth 28 which intermesh with teeth 27 for aiding in preventing slipping of the attachments with respect to its associated aw.

Figs. 5 and 6 show another modified attachment 29 for cushioning a vise jaw 29a. This attachment is also channel-shaped but in addition to side portions 30, is provided with opposite end portions 31. The sides and end portions 30 and 31 of the attachment are so spaced and sufficiently resilient to firmly hold the attachment to the vise jaw by the inherent gripping force of the opposed side and end portions.

In View of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new 1. A readily removable and replaceable cushioning attachment for a wrench gripping jaw which is formed of material which is softer than a metal workpiece to be gripped; which will indent when gripped with suflicient force against a workpiece; which will recover rapidly to its original shape when such grip is released; which has good frictional and gripping characteristics; and which includes a center portion and a pair of spaced side portions extending from said center portion so as to provide a channel-shaped configuration, said center portion being formed of a size so as to snugly overlie a gripping face of said gripping jaw and the inherent resiliency of said side portions being suflicient to hold said attachment to side walls of said gripping jaw in gripping relationship while still permitting easy removal thereof; said gripping face having formed thereon a plurality of transverse gripping teeth, and transverse teeth formed on a jaw-confronting surface of said center portion that mesh the first mentioned teeth to prevent sliding movement of said attachment relative to said gripping jaw.

2. A readily removable and replaceable cushioning attachment for a wrench gripping jaw which is formed of material which is softer than a metal workpiece to be gripped; which will indent when gripped with suificient force against a workpiece; which will recover rapidly to its original shape when such grip is released; which has good frictional and gripping characteristics; and which includes a center portion and a pair of spaced side portions extending from said center portion so as to provide a channel-shaped configuration, said center portion being formed of a size so as to snugly overlie a gripping face 7 side portions being suificient to hold said attachment to side walls of said gripping jaw in gripping relationship while still permitting easy removal thereof; said gripping face having formed thereon a plurality of transverse gripping teeth, transverse teeth formed on a jaw-confronting surface of said center portion that mesh the first mentioned teeth to prevent sliding movement of said attachment relative to said gripping jaw, and an end portion on said attachment, said end portion interconnecting forward edges of said side portions and said center portion and positioned against a front surface of said gripping jaw to further prevent rearward slipping of said attachment on said gripping jaw.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 331,812 Norris Dec. 8, 1885 1,075,850 Perkins Oct. 14, 1913 2,340,316 Fest Feb. 1, 1944 2,356,318 Hayman Aug. 22, 1944 2,404,224 Fink July 16, 1946 

